Eventually the match was duly awarded to Godalming by default, though it was later revealed that had the sides been brought off by the umpires at the same stage and the match abandoned – which was surely inevitable by then – the home side would have won anyway on a better run-rate.

Godalming had batted first and made 122-6 in a match limited to 14 eight-ball overs per side rather than the usual 16 because of the weather. City’s reply – that did not get underway until 7.35pm – had reached 99-5 from 12 when the dramatic climax unfolded.

Maraj, whose side were beaten finalists in the Surrey Advertiser-sponsored knockout competition last summer, explained: “It was drizzling at the start and we agreed to come off if it got worse.

“Even when I went into bat the game was still well balanced. I told the umpires after my first ball that I couldn’t see it. I appealed against the conditions and one umpire said okay but the other wanted to carry on.”

Maraj had come in at number five in the 10th over with the score at 83-3 and immediately lost Ashraf Bashir (30) who later received hospital treatment having been struck on the arm in fading light.

The skipper, who was then run out after losing grip on his bat sending it hurtling towards the luckily unmanned square leg, added: “I felt it was unsafe for my players to carry on and I conceded the game for that reason. The game should have been called off between innings. The umpires should have been stronger, they didn’t give us any consideration.”

Maraj confirmed he would be penning a letter of complaint to the organisers. Umpire Greenwood, who regularly stands in the Surrey Championship, said: “We were just about to start talking about coming off when I saw the batsmen being called off.”

Hopkinson, who had agreed to use slow bowlers for the last two overs at the umpires’ request, admitted: “It’s very sad that the game has been decided like this. We made the decision to start through the drizzle until it got to a state when it was dangerous to everybody.”

The skipper revealed he was unhappy that his request at the midway point to change the soggy ball – which must have possessed all the grip of a bar of soap – had been refused by Maraj.

Hopkinson went on: “In a lot of ways it swayed our decision when their captain pulled his guys off and didn’t let the umpires make the decision.

“After seven or eight overs it was going in their favour and they were quite happy to stay on through several rain storms. “Admittedly, it got very bad towards the end but let’s make the umpires decide.”

But Hopkinson is delighted to have seen Fuller’s Brewery League Godalming through to their first FD final for 52 years. He added: “I’m very happy with the team in general. We have come a long way in the last two or three years.

“To beat three sides from the Championship first division is a great feat in itself and I think our boys deserve to get there.” Godalming will meet Normandy or Guildford, whose semi on Wednesday was lost to the weather – thankfully long before it made a start.

It has been rescheduled for next Wednesday unless England are involved in the Euro 2004 semis. If they are, it will be moved on 24 hours to Thursday at Hunts Hill Road.